The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club’s 16-Smack and 18-Smack teams began their club season this past weekend by sweeping their pools in the first qualifying round of the Southern California Volleyball Association competition.
The 16-Smack team started the first match on Saturday against Channel Islands 16-Premier with a 0-5 point deficit, “but we calmed down and found our groove to win the game and the match,” stated Coach Greg Novak.
The second match, against Golden West 16-Black, proved to be a steadier run, while the last match of the day against Coast 16-2 Kane put the team to the test with the first game 25-23 and a second exciting game pushing the team to a 28-26 victory.
“Our missed serves proved to be the culprit for allowing the opponent to stay close,” explained Novak. “But the team had great passing all day!”
The team earned a bye for the second qualifying round.
The 18-Smack team swept its competition in the Gold division on Sunday, knocking off San Diego 18-1 (25-12, 25-20), Rancho Valley 18-Robert (25-17, 25-18) and Laguna Beach 17-KK’s (25-16, 26-24). Assistant coach Todd Garrett stepped in for head coach Greg Gibbons to coach for the day, and praised the team for its solid play.
“We have a long way to go this season and this weekend was a step in the right direction,” he said.
The team will also receive a bye through the second qualifying round.
Shalen Williams’ 18-White team played hard-fought battles in the Gold division, going to three games in two of three matches. The team lost to SCVC 17-Roxy in three tight games and Surf City 18-Craig in two, then beat TCA 18-Black in three. The long matches proved to be important as the team, which went 1-2 for the day, entered into a 3-way tie and, based on game/point ratio, took second place.
The Santa Barbara 17-Smack team also went 1-2 to finish third in the Silver division for the day. Losing two close matches to Reef 17-Joe (23-25, 20-25) and Seal Beach 17-Maria (25-27, 20-25), the team rallied to beat South Bay in the final match of the day 25-13, 25-10. Coach Angie Erdmann was encouraged with her team’s play.
“The team played well for a first tournament,” she said.
Coach Jessie Fahey’s 12-Smack team put up a strong effort in the Gold division of its age group, but lost all of its matches for the day. Despite the losses, Coach Fahey was pleased to see her team eagerly compete with composure against some “very tough competition”.
The Santa Barbara’s 15’s teams will compete this Sunday in their first qualifying rounds for the SCVA, while the 18-Smack will partake in an annual two-day invitational MLK Speakeasy tournament.
